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Walnut Street Jail Built
Pennsylvaia's most prominent architect, Robert Smith, designed the U-shaped building; a solution for overcrowding in the current city jail. Walnut Street Jail was designed to hold large groups of prisoners in large rooms. The new jail was located behind Independence Hall. -
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Early Years of Walnut Street Jail
It was believed that if the criminals were punished with hard labor and solitary confinment, they would have plenty of time to reflect on their wrong-doings. Law of 1786: "ordered the punishment of prisoners by "continued hard labor, publicly and disgracefully imposed." It was during this time that the Pennsylvania Prison Society was formed for the intent of improving the "revolting conditions" of the current system. -
Deplorable Jail Conditions and Practices
Men, women, and children were housed together; physical attacks and rapes were the norm. Guards brought in liquor; the prisoners could barter their clothing for the spirits but took the risk of not having enough layers to endure the extreme temperatures of winter. -
Walnut Street Jail Converted from Jail to Prison
Between the terrible conditions of the jail and the speedy pace which the cells filled to capacity, the jail had to be converted into a prison. The Act of 1789 regulated which hours and days of the week prisoners could work. Most common occupations: nail and shoe making, stone sawing, weaving and picking wool. The prisoners were also responsible for sewing their own clothing. -
Transition from Pennsylvania System to Auburn System
People were beginning to realize the solitary confinement aspect of the Pennsylvania System was much more dangerous than originally anticipated. After visiting a prison which was run with the Pennsylvania System, Charles Dickens wrote: " I am persuaded that those who designed this system...do not know what it is they are doing...I hold the slow and daily tampering with the mysteries of the brain to be immeasurably worse than any torture of the body." -
Benefits of Auburn System
The Auburn System incorporated a scheulded work day which included brief interaction with fellow prisoners and guards. It was hoped that this new system would create a more productive environment which in turn would curb the urge to continue criminal behavior. The goal was for the prisioners to gain a sense of purpose, discipline, and order. -
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More Prisons Built
Eastern State Penitentiary, Sing Sing, and Western State Penitentiary were erected. -
New Prison Accomodations
John Haviland vision of Eastern State Penitentiary came to life. The prisoners had the "luxeries" of central heating, flush toilets, and shower baths in each private cell. At this time, the prison had features even the President of the United States did not have in the White House. -
Charles Williams
The first prisoner to see the inside of ESP, Charles Williams, was escorted to the prison in an eyeless hood. Sentenced to two years for theft, he, like all future prisoners, would be lead to the prison with no knowledge of their surroundings to prevent the opportunity for escape. This was also done to protect the prisoner's identity. When their release date finally arrived, the townspeople would not recognize them as an ex convict. -
The End of the Pennsylvania System
Finally, all prisons gave up the Pennsylvania System. Now, prisoners shared cells, worked together and even participated in organized sports. This was not only a better environment for the prisoners for the obvious reason of interaction with others, but it also gave the prisoners more options to spend their days. -
State Industrial Home for Women
The first Industrial Home for Women was built; here, the women prisoners were taught basic educaton and homemaking skills. -
First Prison Riots
The first prison riots at both Western State Penitentiary and Rockview occured. With each step of progress in the correction system, there were always a few steps back. The ever growing population of prisoners paired with the always present plague of idleness, ciaos was inevitable. -
System Continues to Evolve
Today, only the hardest of criminals are kept in the seclusion of solitary confinement. Prisoners are no longer lead to prison blindfolded. One reoccuring challenge in the prison system finding a solution for idleness. Today, prisoners not only have the opportunity to interact with their peers, they are offered vocational classes, as well as basic education and college courses.
